RECEPTION TO HARRY KERR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 339, 28 October 1908, Page 6

RECEPTION TO HARRY KERR.

I The committee aild athletic enthusiast who were instrumental in the preliminary at> rangements which resulted in sending tha New Zealand champion walker, H. Kerr, Home to compete at tho Olympic Games en.tertained the returned athlete at tho Windsor Hotel yesterday evening. The chair was occupied by Dr. A. K. Newman, and there were about 50 persons present. The chairman welcomed Mr. Kerr on bohalf of the committee, and contributors to the fund, and remarked on the satisfaction felt on all sides at the showing made by the Now Zealand champion against the world's best perforniers at the English championships, the Olympic Games,' and other outside meetings. When they sent the young New Inlander Home they did not expect him to beat everything ho met, but they were confideni ho would do his best under the circumstances he found himself in, and that he had done so had been proved at the Olympic Games. Air. Kerr, in replying, stated that he had been treated well wherever ho went, and, referring to his performances, thought he would have done better had he been in the best of condition, at the same time acknowledging the undoubted merits of the champions Larner and Webb, who were of the very highest class. The' style ,of walking at Home waa looser than in New Zealand, and he had not 'learned much about walking as a result of the trip, although ho had done so in other directions. In Mr. Kerr's opinion, Mr. Coombes, of New South Wales, was a bettor judge of walking than any of the English judges he had met. in reply to a question, Air: Kerr was understood to say that lu considered after his experience that ten miles was his best distance. Askod if lie could give the committee' any directions in the best method of proceeding in sending a man Homo to compete, Mr. Kerr replied that tho first consideration was that a man should get Home in plenty of time to get into the best of form. ' Mr. C. H. Izard, M.P., remarked that the result of Mr. Kerr's performances was sufficient justification for sending him Home, and dwelt on the sporting spirit shown by tha N'ew Zealand representative. On his calling, three cheers were given for the young champion. The gathering concluded with a toast to the contributors to the fund, coupled with ' tho name of Mrs. Williams. .